Are Too! Design

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Transgender Inclusiveness

Micro Design Intervention -- 5 of 5

Having paired two projects together, targeting cisgender and transgender spaces, I was pleased to see more uptake to conversation from the second phase. Aforementioned in my prior blog post, this in part had to do with the nightly cleaning of the bathrooms -- the posters were taken down. However, the ones in the single-stall bathrooms were not.    Regardless, the failure of having separate hashtags for each domain contributed. Though, nobody used #dontstopMRU, more would be exposed to the conversation from looking up #inclusiveMRU.

Images 1-3. Sample of one of the Gender Neutral bathrooms at MRU, outfitted with Isolation is not Inclusion posters.

The initial thought about having this conversation was to point out how, though we are progressively moving forward as a society, we our spaces are reminiscent past way of thinking, upholding the values of the past. By upholding visible separation, inclusion will not follow.

Image 1 and 2. First Insgatram post addressing Isolation is not Inclusion poster.

With regards to gender neutral bathrooms, there are two Instagram posts which address dialogue of both sides: the first post speaks the space is inclusive for more than one demographic, but simultaneously claiming that the general public is not the trajectory demographic for gender neutral bathrooms.    The positive upside of having isolating bathrooms is that a variety of users can make use of the space -- however great this is, if isolation is the only option compared to binary perspective, the message behind the poster is being overlooked or ignored.

Images 3-7. First floor, Riddell Library, the long journey to the Gender Neutral bathroom.

Part of the dialogue that was overlooked by this post is the isolation of having to go out of your way to find a gender neutral bathroom. For example, the bottom floor of the library has male and female bathrooms in the center of the building, with ease of access -- the gender neutral bathroom is at accessed by a hallway at the end of the building, then to another hallway, and then down another hallway.   However, this experience was not overlooked. Another Instagram post directly speaks to this reality. Further, this Instagram user directly addresses the first blog post to open continuing the dialogue on the matter. 

Image 8. Instagram post of the negative experience of the long journey to find a Gender Neutral bathroom. The second post speaks to the problem pointed out by the poster: inclusiveness does not come from isolation. Especially when it is inconvenient, and hidden away. 

Being a shared experience, comments to this post respond with advice. But, this display of assistance is a sort of microagression, burying someone’s lived experience with a suggestion. Rather than addressing the problem at large, pushing back on someone’s lived experience creates further exclusion from being invalidated.

Images 9. Responses to issue with Gender Neutral bathroom journey. The response to this reality “you need to know where your bathroom are” perpetuates the problem of exclusiveness, rather then helping to facilitate the inclusive culture of being embedded in the community without having a disruptive experience from the rest of the group. At the end of the day, inclusion looks like something you wouldn’t have to think about to participate in. At present, though steps are being made to help encourage that, it is not the reality at MRU.

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Calgary Transit Bylaw 4M81

Micro Design Intervention -- 4 of 5

The City of Calgary has a discrepancy undermining its claim to affect car volume in the city centre. Its policy from Calgary Transit: Bylaw 4M81 eliminates bike riders from connecting with the central artery for pubic transportation, being the C-Train.

The intent of this micro intervention is to raise awareness about the policy by having conversations with other transit users, or at least bring this to their attention, so if problems arise, they know why.

Image 1. Social media of the advocacy at City Hall station.

Across the street, at the northern platform, is where Bow Valley College is located. The campus is lucky, as they are directly on the C-Train line. But, this is not the reality of many.   As bike accessible busses are rare, sparse, and far off route this policy makes the other form of Calgary’s public transportation an unreliable option with a fixed schedule.   People trying to get to and from work, school, appointments, meetings, and so forth, are barred from what should be accessible, timely transportation for all tax-paying Calgarians.

Image 2. Woman reading #change4m81 sign while en route.

En route to City Hall station in the city center many heads turned to read the sign, both while on the platform waiting for the train and while riding. But, many nobody came over to ask about it. It was not the same while standing on the platform at City Hall, however. Many more heads were turned while passing by, while boarding, and even while across the platform -- people, entire families would stop to read the signs before continuing on with their day.

There were about 10 people who asked what the bylaw was about, engaging in a 3-4 minute chat about what the problems are and why. Many said they could see how this poses a problem, but were also unsure of what would solve the problem because it begins with attitude. Most who oppose have had poor experiences with riders. Even though it is a management issue, it is the same dispute about holding space on the road -- bicyclists and drivers are opposed to giving up space they consider fundamentally theirs.    Part of starting to shift this mentality is to be aware of the issues feeding to the problem. Being able to explain the details and the ripple effects helped locals realize a city policy they didn’t even know of was causing problems in and of itself, but also prevented other city goals tax payers continue to pay into. If it doesn’t affect them, and if it is not visible, it persists. During this time advocating to change bylaw 4m81, all but one person who spoke with us were open to dialogue on the subject.    One man simply passed by pontificating the reason this bylaw is in effect: he postulated it was because bike users annually break ankles of other transit users while riding the train. He did not seem to care about any of the content on our signs, or what we were speaking of. In fact, when I mentioned I have spoken with bylaw officers, the Calgary Transit call centre, and a supervisor within Calgary Transit, nobody had mentioned this, his response was -- that they did tell me this, and he continued on his way.

Image 3. Man reading #change4m81 sign.

Image 4. Men reading #change4M81 sign.

Image 5. Men reading #change4m81 sign

Image 6. Man and woman reading #change4m81 sign.

Image 7. Group reading #change4m81 sign. 

Image 8. Man on train reading #change4m81 sign while standing in designated bike zone.

What made conversations easier to have, was being located directly at the train. We were able to point out that Calgary Transit already designates bike zones as a part of each train compartment, to facilitate desired pedestrian-bike user interaction. We were also able to point out the mismanagement of these zones making them moot:    The only indication of these areas, to all users, is through a 2″ sticker on the outside window. This area is therefore used as standing room where bike users are trying to load then occupy this area. Other passengers are obstacles to maneuver a bike around and remain upright during travel.      What amplifies this problem further is the vertical bar obstructing boarding and exiting with a bike. Many passengers use this to hold onto while standing, as other entrances and exits do not have a vertical bar at the door to hold onto. This makes these areas more troublesome for bike users.    With such little emphasis and endorsement of what areas are for which transit users people are either oblivious or try to make the ride the best it can be. With proper facilitation through proper endorsement and enforcement, bikes would not be a problem for any c-train user.

Image 9. General posting of anti-bicycle policy at city center C-Train station.

Given that there were only two of us, the numbers were rather small to make a draw much attention. At least social media was able to transcend that barrier, though it was only through a SnapChat story for the day.     It is also the getting into colder winter weather. When people are on their way to warm up inside winter doesn’t allow for much consideration about bicycle use, especially when that is not routinely seen at this time of year.    Beyond the presence on the C-Train platform, I was able to facilitate a number of conversations while attempting to recruit friends, colleagues, and peers. I was able to flow through similar conversations in preparation for the day, while bringing to light points never considered or connected.

In order to actually make some headway with the project, beyond a few chats, it would be better to arrange a group to perform the same stand-in on the platform at a time in the year where bicycle traffic is on peoples minds.    With the use of social media, I anticipate there would be more buy in as well as participation. The hashtag was only used by myself to display the workings of preparing for the day.

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Transgender Rights to use Public Bathrooms

Micro Design Intervention -- 3 of 5

Having had discussions at work with colleagues about the importance of having safe spaces for transgender individuals, it dawned on me how there is a sense of unfamiliarity. At Recreation we have hosted safe swim nights because of the entanglement of people wanting to be themselves in public, but needing to separate space from themselves from the public at large in vulnerable moments. 

The fact this was a conversation at work, in a university setting, that someone “just doesn’t get why there need’s to be a specific area for transgender people to go to the bathroom” sparked an idea:    Perhaps, like in the perception of wayfinding, someone can only understand empathy when they are in the same moment of vulnerability, and inspired to consider that moment as the reality of someone else of a different circumstance. Maybe then, the experience would have transference for those unable to achieve the understanding on their own.

This idea created parallel between wanting people to go through this exercise, while not antagonising people who understand this experience. I came up with a design I believe endorses people who currently understand, while visibly proposing the idea of the thought exercise.    With use of hierarchy, the sign reads “Transgender rights don’t stop behind closed doors”, emphasizing that behind closed stalls, and behind closed bathroom doors people have the right to be treated with respect. As we know, policies and confrontations exist where that is not the reality.    The parallel is introduced by splitting up the posted into two zones. The left, an endorsement to keep on keepin on, “Don’t hesitate to be yourself”; the right, the thought exercise, “Stop. What if your right to use this bathroom were questioned?”

Image 1. Transgender Rights poster.

It would have been more impactful to use the same hashtag as another design, attempting to bring inclusiveness to the minds of the MRU community (#inclusiveMRU). 

The hashtag on the poster reads “#dontstopMRU”, which is stand alone. Though nobody has responded, at least on instagram, with this hashtag. I am unable to see the impact of this project beyond having conversations with classmates.

Image 2. Poster in women’s bathroom in W wing.

Image 3. Poster in men’s bathroom in Upper floor, Main St.

Image 4. Poster in men’s bathroom in W wing.

There were a total of 8 bathrooms where these posters have been displayed. First, by a female classmate last week, and then by myself. I waited until midnight the same night the posters were put up. 

When I checked the women’s washrooms where I knew the posters were placed they had been taken down. This was at the same time custodial staff had finished their rounds in the area, so it is likely the exercise was too short lived to spark a response, beyond the bathroom goer’s while the posters were present. 

This micro design intervention was paired with a sister intervention, specifically targeting the installation of Gender Neutral signs at MRU. This was part of the discussion at my work place, at MRU, to create a safe space, leading to an inclusive environment on campus. This sister intervention will explore the response to that component of the project.

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Community Pop-Up Food Box

Micro Design Intervention -- 2 of 5

This initiative was born from conversations hosted by Calgary Neighbourhoods, with Manchester residents. Many commented feeling disconnected from the community, as they felt there was a lack of community presence -- there is no community space, no community events, and a lack of neighbourly interaction. 

As the area is comprised of mainly by accessible housing through Calgary Housing Company, many of the occupants are low income or require social assistance. This means that many households are food insecure. Of course, there are a variety of circumstances of occupants in the community, and in the building.

Much like a pop-up library, a pop-up food box acts as a way for the public to participate in the community. The reciprocal acts of taking or giving items is a way for an individual to engage anonymously, on their own terms. As a symbol of community in the building, occupants are able to see a visible community presence, regardless of participating or not.

By creating a space for community participation, I assembled this food box to see if the building would embrace the opportunity for community interaction or reject it. This is the progression over the past week:  

Image 1. Items to construct a pop-up food box.

Image 2. Cutting up the sign for pop-up food box.

While creating this food box, I realized it could be made more minimalistic due to the nature of the materials, the way the interact, and my inability to find where I put my roll of tape. Mainly the lack of tape. So, the only materials used was a milk crate and a piece of paper.    To create this food box, I cut out a sort of bottleneck shape into a piece of paper, with a square message printed at the bottom. This then folds over and hangs through the milk crate’s gripping holds, staying in place due to the bottleneck form.

Originally, I imagined the construction to look as a shelter or a shelf typical for pop-up libraries. Then I realized the inability to use this method, because of the Canadian reality of long winters. An adjustment needed to be made.

Image 3. Pop-up food box set-up in foyer of building.

This food box was placed in the entrance foyer of my building, beyond the security doors. As the community has safety concerns, this kept the food box protected from vandalism. Likewise, because of animals finding their way around the city, the Canada was placed in a safe location indoors to keep animals from looting the goods.    In particular to the Canadian reality, to keep the food from freezing or being damaged from weather, an indoor solution was necessary. The milk crate was then chosen for being a free and durable receptacle for donations.

Image 4. Pop-up food box after 1 hour.

The night I set-up this up I went out to pick-up my boyfriend from the city centre. In it I had placed three potatoes, and three cans of non-perishable food: corn, pear halves, and salmon. When I returned an hour later the items were gone. Two new cans of other food took it’s place.

Over the next week, more interactions took place. The box was renewed with different items every day or so. Being that this is the first week, I was surprised by the immediate uptake, having thought it would need to be present for some time before people would adopt it.    Though I am optimistic, I believe this exercise needs to be stoked by the community to keep it going. It would not be reasonable to imagine the box be stocked at all times, but the more it is empty, it feels there will be less considerations to the effect. Without a community representative ensuring it be replenished with a couple items now and then, the idea is a fragile in the time before it becomes common place.

Image 5. Pop-up food box after 1 day.

Image 6. Pop-up food box after 2 days. 

Image 7. Pop-up food box after a week.

Image 8. Pop-up food box after 1 week.

Image 9. Pop-up food box after 1 week.

Having had conversations with people in other spaces I have decided to make this document available for the public to share, so people can make their own version of a pop-up food box, or pass it along to others who know of a space to host this idea.

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Little did I know

Blog Reflection 4 -- A conversation with someone of a different point of view.

Everything being said was fundamentally wrong, yet I sat there listening. In fact, I was jumping out of my seat. A debate was taking place in my global citizenship class, Citizenship without Boarders. Each group had to pick a topic -- the topics already debated: automated labour, and euthanasia. 

The other topics were interesting, making fair -- or moderately fair -- points on their own behalf. But, this debate was getting at people, it wasn’t just me fidgeting. I kept reflecting over the same meagre, stale, outdated points being made by the opposition. It got me so mindful of this, as a bystander, I could not help but write out my own responses.

When the time came for questions my hand shot up like many others. I was not going to go unheard, as was my meek attempt to ask a question during other debates. That wasn’t going to happen.     It had been a long night, and class was concluding, so I was able to reign in the full attention of the class for one seismic question. Luckily, an astute classmate followed after the conversation from my question subsided -- it was my second question, but taken further. I rejoiced, literally thanking my classmate while he was asking the question. But, still, my last question went unanswered.

Or so I thought.

While packing up, one of the three men opposed to legalizing prostitution came up to me and asked me to ask my question because it was obvious I was burning a hole in my seat during the debate. I was appreciative of this. Not only did we have a platform in class, but this was on his own time asking to open a dialogue about our differences.

I asked. He answered. And but so did others. Four of us stayed behind talking about the intricacies of what came up in the debate -- how it affected our lives, and how this plays into society as a larger picture. It was surprising to hear the humanity which was seemingly to be absent before, just as the shared opinions and shared experiences. 

What I realized was that I remove the humanity from others who disagree with me about core values. Even though I can hear someone out, I have disregarded them, written-off people as a classification according to one topic in a reality of millions of global issues.    The feeling of my eyebrows raising was abrupt when I realized I was distancing myself off, rather than engaging; further, rather than accepting that this opposition is part of other human experiences and perceptions. It is not my own, it is far from it, but people share all the same needs. To define a person off of one interaction, one behaviour, one opinion is absurd, but it does happen every day. What I realized though, is like my final year has groomed me to actively acknowledge and challenge my assumptions, I need to challenge my own resistance to that which is not my reality.

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Deciphering the Code

Blog reflection 3 -- Reflection on podcast episode ‘Eggshells’

It can be awkward realizing your behaviour is not understood by others. Then to call someone out on it, only to have them use the ‘I’m not a racist’ card. That’s right this blog post is about the things white people do which causes dysfunction while interacting outside their own skin colour. 

WRONG ASSUMPTION

Last week while listening to the ‘Eggshells’ episode of Colour Code’s podcast I was initially confused. From the language I was hearing, I was prepared to hear an angry offensive white person, with an emotional wreck of a person of colour as the introduction to the episode spoke about a heated discussion about white fragility.    Instead, I heard an oblivious man making generalisations, who when caught off guard, was not able to articulate himself well. His opposite, an intelligent woman who remained calm while still focused on making a point... to the point she didn’t seem to make much else happen. The conversation stagnated. 

The content of this problem was because the conversation focused on knit picking apart what was being said, rather than focusing on the concepts being exchanged. The conversation originated out of the topic of a poll suggesting POC do not integrate themselves into the community. The point being made is that presence in a space is interacting versus how others, particularly white people, prescribe this interaction to be becoming unsettled when others do not mirror their own behaviour.

IGNORANCE IS NOT BLISS

But, the conversation was falling apart because the fill-in host was not seasoned about talking about race while hosting a conversation which is racially motivated. When this was beginning to be uncovered, he was unable to calibrate his understanding, but simply looked to affirmative conversation with like-minded people.    When faced with the opportunity to hear about how what he perceived to be normal was in fact only one reality, of many lived realities, the host decided to shut down. He defended himself rather than listening and creating an open dialogue. 

Another point I struggled with was reconciling the concept that when a person realizes their own ignorance, to not latch to others to solve their own blindspot; and, that it is not the responsibility of someone experiencing ignorance of someone else to take it upon themselves to educate that person. However, this was due to the content of the episode.    It had one person taking on that role: stepping into a conversation to correct assumptions. But the conversation was stuck on the same points rather than explaining the position and how that functioned. The conversation was stuck repeating certain points, rather than discussing the function of what was being said to the system overall. 

WHAT TO DO IF IT HAPPENS TO YOU

The conclusion of the episode unpacked the point of the analysis of the recordings which transpired: when speaking to someone who has done something racist, if you choose to engage, make sure to focus the distinction you aren’t calling them a racist: that what you are saying, is that they have done something racist. Focus on the action, not the person. Otherwise, ego will kick in. To have a productive conversation, to get through you have to walk on eggshells.    And, if you are that person who is being called out. Take a second; listen. Acknowledge your unawareness, and try to understand what it is in context that is not your own. It is up to you to figure things out, which might have to be in a different space, at a different time. 

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Yes men? No thank you, sir.

Blog reflection 2 -- Reflection from the film ‘the Yes Men fix the world’

Do you ever ask yourself, “where would we be?”... Where would we be if ‘yes men’ didn’t exist? Those mindless drones who yield to the status quo, rather than intervene in plans posing negative outcomes to the world. Where would we be?    Where would we be if large organizations and institutions were held accountable for their wrong doings? Those heartless conglomerates lobbying for their best bottom line, banking on the dividends to justify the means. Where would we be?     Where would we be if voices of those affected held more significance than the sound of the trade market bell? Those soulless peddlers governed by their wallets, while staying ignorant to those effected by their decisions. Where would we be? Who is to say? Right now, the reality of the world is that ‘yes men’ do exist. ‘Yes men’ do perpetuate industries, and major forces within them, to thrive unregulated, uncorrected, unpunished. Organizations do foster ‘yes men’ behaviour to allow exploitation in pursuit of wealth for the elite, without justice to those effected along the way.    Being this is our inherited reality, it is easy to get frustrated with how little justice there seems to be; how little change seems to be affected. History proves humour makes the public realize atrocities of the world, while finding a way to laugh through the abuse.

The Yes Men, recognized these frustrations. The duo weaponize farce to contrast circumstances of the improbable with opportunities of the impossible, making the rest of us ask “why can’t this be, instead?”. 

FILM TAKE AWAY’S

The concept of ‘yes men’ is not a new one. Neither is the impact of ‘yes men’ on the status quo. But, what is new is the taste of poetic justice The Yes Men dole out. Their stunts address industries and directly call out companies for ineptitude; trespassing against these entities by taking responsibility for their wrong doing, on their behalf.  

Some of the take away’s of the film: 1. There is a polarization of behaviours:

   Those who’s guiding star is money, and those who’s guiding star is entirely different. Reactions to stunts were based either on money lost or reputations, or praise for acknowledging the real problem being overlooked.    This further breaks down to those who blindly believe the free market should be entrusted to, and does provide just outcomes, and those who recognize the sheer volume of contradictions to that notion, and those who have lived experience of the injustice.

2. How there is opportunity for acknowledgement and accountability:

   Each stunt or hoax performed by The Yes Men addressed opportunities for people to act. The opportunities along the path of decision making where people fail to flex their critical thinking, or just raise a hand and question what was going on.    More directly, where there were audiences ready to encourage the (mock-)announcements taking responsibility for wrong doing, but there was an expectation and hunger from the world, to see these actions taking place. 

3. Misplaced sentiments:

   When the praise subsided, it was revealing to see how many people ‘spoke for’ the victims. How so many outlets spoke to outrage against the stunt.    Anecdotal evidence on the ground in many instances proved outrage of victims was toward the true perpetrators, not toward the stunts. Many victims recognized their cause had new life through new attention. New conversations. Victims were being heard, where before they were faded murmurs, or excluded from the conversation. 

These victims were historically unheard, being excluded from having legitimate hold in decision making for their future.    The people directly affected are the conversation. Without their input, without taking their input as the critical input, there is no legitimate outcome.

4. Free market system is blind to its own contradiction:

   For those who believe in the free market system, believes consumers vote with their dollars. How a person spends their dollars depends on having options; how a system executes decision making emphasises having a vast competitive market which has been driven to high quality, for lower cost. This is neither reality, nor proven trajectory of markets where the ones making the profit control the factors governing the price and quality. There is no competition. Often, those affected do not have a say in what they are given, it is dictated.

BEING AN INFO DESIGNER

Focusing on the design process, and progress of our design post-intervention, brings to mind a couple insights from the movie:

1. It is that it is okay to be outlandish:        Starting conversations can be an outcome unto itself. Conversations are a tool giving life to ideas and protest against the way things exist. Just having people question their behaviour and be aware to the behaviours around them causes change.  2. Don’t just focus on the obvious:

   There are ways into the conversation which are impactful,  but not necessarily directly considered when thought about the topic.  3. First be obvious, then be clever:

   Sometimes the impact is lost in the design. Make sure the concepts are easy to understand, and the system of design layers together important, relevant contributions to enhance the experience. 4. Cut out the bystander syndrome:

   Make a space for everyone to participate, and be included in the solution, regardless of their stance. Whether it be a thought exercise, or voicing an opposing view point, to have a legitimate dialogue is to understand all areas of the problem and how it contributes to the way things are.

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It’s not right, it’s a priviledge

Blog reflection 1 -- Reflection of my own reality and experiences.

PRIVILEGE

Privilege occurs in many ways: situational advantages, societal advantages, advantages within a community, advantages of exclusion, and so on. These circumstances are out of our control, yet shape the world. They cause critical life-long impacts to our experiences, often ingrained as second nature; often unrealized because they are the way framework we exist in.

  This is something I’ve thought about since attending Challenge Day in high school back in 2004. As a representative of Crescent Heights High School’s Leadership group, I went to Lord Beaverbrook High School for a seminar on social interactions to counteract bullying. This focused on breaking down barriers between cliques with the realization we are more than the image of ourselves; so is everyone else.

Among many exercises that day, there was one emotionally charged activity: to be seen for our vulnerabilities. Questions were asked, and to respond (in the spirit of honesty) students left the safety of the group to cross a line in the middle of the gym to form a populous of that demographic. Questions ranged from warm: ‘I have grown up in the same neighbourhood as my friends’; to harder reflection, ‘I consider my family to be poor’.

   When the question came: ‘I am gay’, I was emotional, but I was able to walk across the gym without hesitation because of the safety created in this space. I knew nobody, and my honesty was inconsequential. The courage of the group that day was vulnerable: by these peers revealing their real identities, they felt both relief and objectified.

What struck me most was the exact purpose of the day: Realizing the preconceived notions I implied onto people I had never really known. Through the responses of these people my perceptions shattered.

   That day occurred a decade ago. What I know now is that opinions are unconscious. It’s whether we ourselves acknowledge this habit and act against it that makes a difference in how we relate to others.

MY PRIVILEGE

As a white male in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, I am privileged with securities and safety others are not. I have unimpeded access to clean air, clean water, and ample food supply, be it fast food chains or groceries.

   I have access to support systems: government infrastructure provides access to health care, my student benefits gives me access to mental health specialists and medication coverage; if I am in need, my family live 30 minutes from my door. There is public transit in place to visit them, and they too have the means to visit me if they need.  Both my parents are together. Both my parents are alive, so is my sister and my niece. I can see them altogether when I visit them.

   As part-time employee, I am able to manage my time to include leisure, self-care, and pursuit of formal education. As a person with a disability in pursuit of education, I have access to grants for assistive technology which I am able to use outside of school work. As a student, I was able to leverage this status to apply for temporary housing in a well located area near my school. And, having had a government infrastructure to provide education throughout my up-bringing, I am literate to be accessing digital services and software for leisure and purposes.

Other ‘advantages’ are afforded from my minorities and experiences. Being marginalized by mental illness, sexual violence, abuse, disability, and sexual orientation I am sensitive that hardships and oppression are faced by other communities, (without first-hand awareness of the specific experiences of others).

MY BLINDSPOTS

There are several communities I have been excluded from, which has caused a lack of awareness of the world and its function. What I have realized as of late, is that I have a unique experience of growing up sheltered without basic affiliations most people in First World Nations do:

Growing up without any affiliation to either religion or politics: Neither parent had a religious or political background, so I have no foundational knowledge of religious teachings, scripture, or community dynamic, nor policy and political framework. News and current events were never of focus, so I never knew about problems around the world, or communities, or about interactions.

Growing up without having close relationships: As many people with autism do, my awareness of social dynamics: interactions, norms, expectations are a struggle. This excluded close relationships with extended family, immediate family, and friends.

Growing up, I was never brought up with any awareness of cultural heritage or cultural traditions: Beyond the ritual of presents for birthday’s and Christmas, I was never learned any cultural traditions for my heritage, what my heritage was, nor of Canadian history.   My only known culture was of multi-culturalism, being a ‘friendly Canadian’, and being a white gay male in Calgary, Alberta. I will never understand the pride for a national army or firearms, nor of ‘maleness’.

Growing up without parents of an educated background, and without a dedicated career path: Savvy of understanding of systems, societies, communities, business skill-sets and practices are unknown. Likewise, I was never aware of scientific discoveries or impacts, and their societal impacts.

Growing up with just enough to get by: I grew up without excess. I was neither impoverished, nor did I enjoy luxuries beyond free time. My family and I lived out of a camping trailer and motel for a time, but we were able to vacation at drive in campsites in southern Alberta.

Growing up without activity, both in lifestyle and hobbies: Concepts of discipline, dedication, and long-term pursuit were never imposed. Neither parent followed any sport or personal interest, nor associated with anyone outside of work, nor took up any general skill in mechanics, home skills, cooking, carpentry, gardening, etc.

Growing up as a white, gay, male in Calgary, AB. I will never know what it is like to grow up as a visible minority, or as a person with a physical disability, or as a woman, or as a person with tight-knit family or social networks, or without, or as a person without access to quality necessities for life.

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Riddell Library: Study Booth Signage

Micro Design Intervention -- 1 of 5

BACKGROUND

The new MRU library is impressive for its applied variety of study environments. One of these spaces, “Buzzy Hubs”, are deep study booths that create a distraction reduced environment: hooded on 3 sides, excess light, sound, and visual pollution are cut off.

These Buzzy Hub’s effectiveness were contradicted by their arrangement: facing the window, against the wall. Users, keen to these booths, walk-in on occupiers affectively causing abrupt and repeated interruptions. Both parties lose.

Adding a flip-sign at the back to indicate status as either occupied or free could immediately prevent these intrusions.

Image 1. Bank of “Buzzy Hub” study booths.

Gif 1. No signage - All Occupied: student unknowingly interrupts occupiers of end booths. 

INTENTION / Reasons / Goals

By reduce these avoidable interruptions, or eliminating them altogether, students collaborate or study independently as expected in the space. Better study conditions produce better study results; better interaction with the space means higher reliability, forming better study habits long-term.

 Image 2. Supplies for temporary signage.

Image 3. Signage implemented.

OUTCOME

Poignant signage created an immediate positive interaction. There were no intrusions. 

Would-be intruders walked by without hesitation; awkward darting in-and-out between gaps ceased. Instead, of choppy detection for signs the booth was occupied, reading the sign allowed for continuous flow through the space while passing through.

Now everyone wins.

Gif 2. Signage present -  All Occupied: continuous flow through the space, acknowledging signage.

Gif 3. Signage present - All Occupied: continuous flow through the space, acknowledging signage.

Gif 4. Signage present -  Free Booth: continuous acknowledging  of signage to the free booth at the end.

[aretoodesign-blog]

SIT-IN for a good cause Creating a social event on FaceBook. This interface was a big more confusing that I would liked to have hoped. At first, I thought it would be a quick tap and select for each section. This was not the case. After selecting a theme photo (from suggestions based on my content), the selected picture disappeared when I clicked to close the notification about privacy settings. The other thing to note was how the narrative section, the area you can freely put text, also disappeared when I navigated elsewhere. this was no longer available with what I did text, but also was not present to edit. The section was void with a grey background causing me to start over.  It was not exactly the straight-forward experience I expected.

[aretoodesign-blog]

Brochure-ware - Well Designed albertahealthservices.ca

Alberta Health Services is one example of well thought out information architecture. The arrangement and separation of information, navigation and content, are easily found. There are different visual cues to help guide the user, as well as visuals to give context to relevant information. There is also global level navigation to help the user move around when leaving the landing page. 

[aretoodesign-blog]

Brochure-ware - Poorly Designed work,alberta.ca

The Alberta Labour Board website is a treasure trove of information, though it doesn’t look that way. The design allowed crowding and text volume get in the way making it tedious to read through every line to find what you want - not that it will be there directly. There is little white space, or visual separation, to help users differentiate types of information. Arrangement does help with changing navigation to body content, however, there is still a problem with hierarchy and presentation making the site difficult to use.

[aretoodesign-blog]

Interactive Visualization - Well designed shipmap.org

This design was one of the winners of an award in the Information is Beautiful awards for data visualization. It is well deserved. The website is arranged to be clean, clear, and constant. The information is on a loop where every second that passes the visualization changes. As a result, it is like watching a movie - information correlating to each moment also changes which gets the user’s mind going. What is this? Why is this changing? What is happening? Hundreds to thousands of data points are seen dancing around the screen as information about each category of data jumps around, too. Simple manipulation in various forms (colour, type, date) help narrow the scope. The user is able to pick-up on nuances between the data sets, as well as the function of the data as a whole.  The narration is simple, as it is an unbiased view. The user finds the story.

[aretoodesign-blog]

Interactive Visualization - Poorly designed fuldans.se

This site features a series of dancing cat-men. Though it is visually entertaining and funny, it is difficult to understand what the purpose of the dance represents. 

The user can select different text below, arranged in what seems to be two categories, to change the data. However, this does not manipulate the dance of the cat-man. There is too little integrated into the selection and interaction process. Tidbit - if you watch long enough, one cat-man will become two, then three,.. then five!

[aretoodesign-blog]

Project Prep: Create a Spreadsheet

This table represents the information which will be included in the data visualization. The information will be clustered together, and layered to make the content more intractable, and to spark curiosity.

[aretoodesign-blog]

Project Prep: Brainstorm 10 Potential Stories Stories of Reflection:    “When we can draw parallels to our own life, we can see what is important to act on.”    “We cannot know where to go as a society if we cannot see from where we have come.”

Story of Empathy:

   “Our lived experience is not everyone’s experience. Stories allow us access to the experiences of others, fostering understanding and empathy.”

Story of Healing:

   “If healing begins with acknowledgement, society needs access to stories expressing the hardships people have encountered.”

Story of History:

   “Live art, stories capture what it is like for people living in a particular setting.”

Story of Warning:

   “History tells us where we came from, to not repeat our mistakes.”

Stories of Familiarization as ‘Normalizing’:

   “We fear what we don’t know. Sharing stories helps educate the population.”

   “Contrasting ideas develop deeper understanding, which leads to societal progression.”

Story of Honour: 

   “We honour the struggles of those who paved a path to change through awareness of stories which represent such struggle.” Final Selection: 

“Our lived experience is not every ones...”

[aretoodesign-blog]

Task-ware - Well designed yourtruhome.com

Truman Homes thought this through. The experience is essentially a fun interactive way for the customer to volunteer their information, where they think they are simply getting matched with a home of their dreams.  Instead of having a “cold call” type interaction, the business benefits with a description to start building a relationship - being helpful from the first instance the agent gets in touch. The user benefits from having a neat experience which actually engages them in something they are directly interested in, or curious about.  The downfall is the conclusion, where you are hit with the roadblock of entering contact information rather than straight to the results as expected. So, they could improve their expectation management with a progress bar with details.  Ultimately, this taskware keeps the user involved over a span of time, over a sequence of screens where the flow makes sense.